Web Developer Career Guide

Are you someone who is patient, logical and organized? Do you like solving problems? If yes, then you may be the perfect match for a career in web development!

A web developer is responsible for handling the programming of webpages on the Internet. They focus on the behind-the-scenes functionality of the website, using computer code languages to communicate data about web page display and function. The opportunities for web developers are ample and the educational requirements are incredibly flexible!

To learn more about working as a web developer, browse the career profiles below. Our real-world career profiles are compiled after extensive interviews with actual people working as software developers. By browsing the career profiles, you can see how people in different fields describe their jobs, so you can find a career that is the perfect fit for you.

Web Developer Career Ratings

(What these ratings mean)

Income

Career
Growth

Personal Growth

Contribution

Influence

Job Profiles

Real-Life Web Developer Job Profiles

Below is a list of links to anonymous job profiles of REAL PEOPLE who have filled out our survey and offered to share their insights with our users about their job in the Web Developer field.

ID	Job Title	Gender	Age	Earnings	City & State	Date
32433	Web Developer	Male	36	$65,000	San Marcos, NY	01/01/2010

Overview

What a web developer does

A web developer is responsible for handling the programming of webpages on the Internet. Developers are usually more focused on the behind-the-scenes functionality of the website, whereas website designers or graphic designers may handle logos and other graphics that appear on the page.

Web developers must know the computer code languages used to communicate data about how a web page should display and function. This may include HTML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, MySql, and MSSQL, among others. Developers need to ensure they design websites that can function in a wide variety of different browsers, functioning seamlessly for end users.

The opportunities for web developers are ample. They may work as freelance developers and find their own clients who are in need of someone to build a website. Or, they may work for web design firms or companies that need regular updates and maintenance on their websites. Due to the widespread use of the Internet, web developers have many career opportunities across different sectors. Developers may also work independently or with graphic design and other web design professionals depending upon the size and scope of the project. They may have flexible hours, especially if they are self-employed.

Regardless of where they work or who they work for, the typical duties of a web developer include:

Meeting with clients or management to discuss the needs, design, and functionality of a website or interface
Creating and testing applications, interfaces, and navigation menus for a website
Writing code for a website, using programming languages such as HTML or XML
Working with other team members to determine what information the site will contain
Working with graphics and other designers to determine the website’s layout
Integrating graphics, audio, and video into a website
Monitoring website traffic
Creating prototypes and mockups of websites or applications

Why they are needed

With 4.66 billion people worldwide now using the internet, web developers are essential to today’s economy. They create websites and mobile applications that improve online sales for business, while also making the consumers’ lives easier. Web developers are needed by businesses for many reasons, such as:

Increasing brand awareness
Saving money on advertising
Ensuring a website works 247
Allows businesses to control their content
Increases sales by attracting traffic
Constantly monitoring, tweaking and improving internet content

Pros and cons of a career in web development:

Pros:

It easy to work independently and set up your own business
Web developers can earn a competitive salary
There are lots of opportunities, in lots of different industries
It is expected that there will be lots of exciting employment opportunities over the coming years
It can be highly rewarding, as web developers get to make a huge impact on the profitability of businesses
It is a relatively easy career to enter into

Cons:

It’s not a very active job as web developers are sitting at computers for long periods of time
Web developers may have to work long hours, including nights and weekends
Web developers will never know everything about the field and, as a result, will have to continue learning throughout their entire career
Web developers might not always work on jobs that they find interesting
Computer and web technology is always advancing, which can be hard to keep up with!

Employability

Job market

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of web developers is expected to grow 8% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

This steady increase in employment is expected because eCommerce will continue to expand. With this growth will come a huge growth in online purchasing and web developers will be needed to create, and maintain, these web pages. Similarly, as mobile devices become more and more popular to search the web, there will be a demand for web developers to create mobile applications and interfaces.

Career paths

Becoming a web developer is actually a very accessible career choice for many and the educational requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. It greatly depends on where they work and who they work for. Some employer are happy to hire developers with a high school diploma, whereas others prefer candidates with a bachelors degree in a relevant field, such as computer science or programming.

In order to thrive, web developers need to have a thorough understanding of HTML programming, and other programming languages, such as JavaScript or SQL. Throughout their career, web developers will need to keep up to date with new tools and computer languages. In order to progress to project management positions, web developers are likely to need a bachelors degree in a related field.

Example Job Titles for Web Developer

Below is a list of common job titles in the Web Developer field. Click the links below for more information about these job titles, or view the next section for actual real-life job profiles.

Benefits & Conditions

Income and benefits

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for a web developer in the United States was $77,200 in May 2020. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $146,430 per year.

The top paying industry was the publishing industry, where the median annual wage was $123,870. This was followed by computer systems design and related services ($75,540), advertising, public relations and related services ($71,930) and management, scientific and technical consulting services ($70,790).

Autonomy and Flexibility

To begin with, when a web developer lands their first job, they may not feel like that have a huge amount of flexibility or autonomy as it is typical to report to those in more senior roles. Similarly, web developers may find themselves working very long hours at the start of their career.

However, as they progress into more senior positions, they quickly receive more autonomy, responsibility and flexibility. With more experience, nearly all web developers will work independently, and it is not uncommon for them to be self-employed. This gives them the ultimate flexibility and control over their hours, and their decisions.

Locations and commute

According to Zippia, the best state to be a Web developer, based on average annual salary and number of jobs available, are:

Washington, where the average annual salary is $84,046
Virginia, where the average annual salary is $75,787
District of Columbia, where the average annual salary is $79,360
Wyoming, where the average annual salary is $71,171
New Mexico, where the average annual salary is $76,624

The worst states to be a web developer, according to Zippia, are Arkansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Louisiana and South Dakota.

Work environment

The Bureau of Labour Statistics concludes that 17% of web developers in the United States were employed by the computer systems design and related services industry. A further 10% were employed by the publishing industry, 10% by self-employed workers, 5% by management, scientific and technical consulting services, and a final 4% by advertising, public relations, and related services.

Most web developers will work full time. Often, they will work in offices (sat at desks) or independently from home.

Career Satisfaction

Common Matching Personality Types

Which personalities tend to succeed and thrive in Web Developer careers? Based on our research, there is a relatively strong positive correlation between the following personality types and Web Developer career satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many exceptions, of course, but if you fit into one of the following personality types then we suggest you give strong consideration to a career in Web Developer.

16 Types (Myers-Briggs)

ISTP
INTP

Big Five (OCEAN)

None

DISC

None

Enneagram

Type 5

Holland Codes (RIASEC)

Personality types

Due to the web development industry being a fairly recent and growing profession, little is known about what personality traits web development professionals typically have. However, it is likely that a successful web developer will be the Myers Briggs INTP, or “The Thinker” personality type. These types of people are logical and rational. They like to spend time alone, which is great for web developers who spend much or their time working independently. They like to come up with out of the box solution for many problems and spend time looking at things from different angles. Often, they are absorbed in their own thoughts and look to seek understanding, which is a great quality for a web developer to have.

Accomplishment and mastery

Every time a web developer produces a great web site that serves it purpose, they will feel a high sense of accomplishment and mastery. Similarly, as the industry is constantly changing and computer software is developing at a rapid speed, web developers must keep learning and training. The constant development of new skills will further increase a web developers sense of accomplishment and mastery.

Meaning and contribution

For businesses, using a skilled web developer offers a huge amount of value. They can improve a business brand image, increase their sales, save them money on advertising and much more. As a result, the work of a web developer has a huge amount of meaning and contribution to modern day society.

Life fit

Most web developers tend to work full time, although part time work is available. At some periods, web developers may find themselves working long days. However, a lot of web developers work from home and/or are self-employed, which means they can easily work their job around their busy lives!

Who will thrive in this career?

People who are enthusiastic solving problems
Those who show adaptability and flexibility
Those who like to constantly learn and advance their skill set
Those with good writing and grammatical skills
Those who work exceptionally well under pressure and can handle when things go wrong

Who will struggle in this career?

People who don’t like change, as the world of web development can often be chaotic and professionals need to keep up with the change
People who aren’t keen to continuously learn as web development professionals need to learn new skills all the time
People who don’t work well under pressure

Requirements

Quick Glance

Skills

Skills and talents

The typical skills and talents required for a web developer include:

Problem-solving, as a web developers will need to solve a huge range of technical problems in their daily life
Attention to detail, as web developers must ensure that they are building websites to the highest of standards
Communication skills, as web developers need to be able to communicate effectively with coworkers
Creativity, as web developers are involved in the appearance of a web page and must ensure that it is attractive and aesthetically pleasing

Education

Becoming a web developer is actually a very accessible career choice for many and the educational requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. It greatly depends on where they work and who they work for. Some employers are happy to hire developers with a high school diploma, whereas others prefer candidates with a bachelors degree in a relevant field, such as computer science or programming.

Certifications

There are no specific certifications or licenses that web developers in the United States need to work.

How to Become

Summary

Immediate action

To kick start a career in web development, there are plenty of online courses that you can complete to enhance your resume and show employers your passion and determination to work in the industry.

Education and learning

To become a web developer is actually a very accessible career choice for many and the educational requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. It greatly depends on where they work and who they work for. Some employers are happy to hire developers with a high school diploma, whereas others prefer candidates with a bachelors degree in a relevant field, such as computer science or programming.

Skill development

Whilst working as a web development professional, there is a lot of opportunity for skill development and career progression. Many professionals continue to take courses, such as ones in Javascript or HTML, to advance their skills and knowledge and keep up to date with the ever growing and changing industry.

FAQs

Ask a Question

Have a question about Web Developer careers? If so, our mentors would love to help! Just click on a mentor’s profile below and then fill out the “Ask a Question” form on that page. Your question will then be emailed to the mentor, who can then email you a reply.

ID	Job Title	Gender	Age	Earnings	City & State	Date
32433	Web Developer	Male	36	$65,000	San Marcos, NY	01/01/2010

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